10 waterfalls worldwide
Kayaking at waterfalls
Flatwater above the lip or big water below it — kayaking gets you closer to a waterfall than any walking trail.
Kayaks and canoes let you approach a waterfall from the river: calm paddles on the water above the falls, guided trips to the base, and, for experts, whitewater runs below. Most visitors do a guided half day on flat water.
Worth knowing before you book
- The water above a waterfall moves faster than it looks; stay with your guide and within marked areas.
- Several parks ban private boats entirely.
- Early morning is calmest for wind and wildlife.
Safety
Never paddle towards the lip of a falls. Wear the buoyancy aid you are given, even on flat water.
From our full guides
What it costs, and who runs it
Advertised 2026 prices at the destinations we cover in depth, converted to US dollars. Open a guide for the season, what's included and how to book.
Where it runs
Waterfalls with kayaking
Every destination in our index where kayaking genuinely operates at or immediately around the falls. If an operator has closed, we take the entry down rather than leave a dead booking link.
Full guide Victoria Falls
Largest sheet of falling water on Earth
UNESCO Seven Sisters Waterfall
Centerpiece of the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord
UNESCO Stirling Falls
One of only two permanent waterfalls on Milford Sound
UNESCO Virginia Falls
One of Canada's most remote major waterfalls
Shoshone Falls
Taller than Niagara Falls
Wilberforce Falls
One of the highest waterfalls north of the Arctic Circle
Full guide Khone Phapheng Falls
Southeast Asia's largest waterfall by volume
Great Falls
The most dramatic stretch of the Potomac River
Petrohué Falls
Chile's most photographed volcano-and-rapids view
Reversing Falls
The Reversing Falls are a series of rapids on the Saint John River, located in Saint John, New Brunswick…
Questions people ask
Where can you go kayaking at a waterfall?
Our index lists 10 waterfalls where kayaking operates at or right beside the falls, including Victoria Falls, Seven Sisters Waterfall, Stirling Falls, Virginia Falls, Shoshone Falls and Wilberforce Falls.
How much does kayaking at a waterfall cost?
At the destinations we cover in full, advertised 2026 prices run roughly US$26 to US$196 per person, depending on the operator and what's included. Prices are converted to US dollars from local currencies and change without notice, so check the operator before you book.
When is the best time of year for kayaking at waterfalls?
Across the waterfalls in our index, the most are at their best February to May and October. But each activity has its own window — rafting often stops at peak flood, and ice climbing needs a hard freeze — so check the season on each destination page.
Is kayaking at a waterfall safe?
Never paddle towards the lip of a falls. Wear the buoyancy aid you are given, even on flat water.
Other ways in
